Java software (programming language) was developed by which company ?

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Prelims-2025

Explanation

The Java programming language was originally developed by Sun Microsystems.
The project was initiated by James Gosling and his team, and the first public version was released in 1995.
The core principle of Java is "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA), allowing code to run on any platform that supports Java without needing to be recompiled.

Option A: Microsoft did not develop Java. It is a direct competitor and developed its own similar language, C# (C-sharp), and the .NET framework.
Option B: IBM has been a significant supporter and user of Java, contributing to its development and offering its own Java implementations, but it was not the original creator of the language.
Option D: Oracle is the current owner of Java, but it did not develop it. Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010.

Visual 1: Timeline - A timeline showing the history of Java, starting with its creation at Sun Microsystems in 1995, key version releases, and the acquisition by Oracle in 2010.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Computer Programming Languages as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a general knowledge question related to computer science and has no direct clinical relevance to nursing practice.
Understanding the basics of technology can be helpful in an increasingly digital healthcare environment, but knowing the developer of Java is not a required competency for nurses.
What if the question was about a healthcare-specific software? For example, if asked about the developer of the VistA E.H.R. system, the answer would be the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Java' and 'developed by'. This indicates the question is about the origin of the language.
Read all the options provided: Microsoft, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle.
Recall or deduce the history of these tech companies in relation to programming languages.
Differentiate between the company that created the language and the company that currently owns it. This is a common distractor in such questions.
Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, so while Oracle is now associated with Java, Sun Microsystems was the original developer.
Select Sun Microsystems as the historically accurate answer to the question asked.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 9 Prelims-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.